Landward Research are undertaking a survey, collecting data on specialist skills, on behalf of the UK national agencies. FAME is working with Landward Research to support the project and to ensure that as many specialists as possible take part. The data gathered by the survey will be invaluable in helping FAME and it’s sector partners respond to the challenges faced by the sector over the coming years, specifically with regards to the availability of specialist skills. Please share widely with your specialist colleagues and encourage them to complete the survey. If you have any queries, you can contact Landward Research directly via the contact details in the notice below.

Survey of Archaeological Specialists: We need your help

The next few years are forecast to be a time of considerable change affecting our historic environment. Large-scale infrastructure projects like HS2, major road schemes, and a mammoth programme of housebuilding are forecast to very significantly increase the demand for a skilled historic environment workforce, at a time when some of the country’s most experienced archaeological specialists are approaching retirement. As a sector we need to try to get to grips with the impact of these two factors, and to invest focused resources into accommodating them.

The national heritage agencies have commissioned Landward Research to undertake a new survey of archaeological specialists, building on the work that was undertaken in 2010. We aim to find out more about the distribution of specialists, their working environments, their training needs and opportunities, and their thoughts on the future.

If you are an archaeological specialist or scientist, please invest just 10 minutes of your time to complete the questionnaire, and encourage others to do the same.

If you are an employer of archaeological specialists or scientists, please ask your staff to complete the questionnaire and spread the word about it.

The Archaeology Training Forum – the sector body with a focus on archaeological and related skills in the study of the historic environment – has identified the need for a skills and training audit as a key priority, and its members from across the sector will use the results of the survey to help plan for the delivery of high-quality expertise to make the most of the opportunities and to help mitigate the impacts of national infrastructure projects. The better the information we gather, the more effective we can be.

If you have any queries about the survey, please contact specialists@landward.eu

Survey Link: https://novisurvey.net/ns/n/specialists.aspx